The Six Extremes Youth was short to begin with and could only sit cross-legged on his chair. At those words, he tumbled off it and stood on the floor.
"Mistress, I..."
"Mistress?"
Before the Six Extremes Youth could finish, the Fire-Spirit Ghost Mother sneered. "You look down on your own junior brother. What right have you to call me Mistress?"
"Get out!"
With that, the Six Extremes Youth flew straight backward as though struck by a heavy blow. He slammed into the doorway and spat blood.
After taking that beating, he relaxed instead.
If the Ghost Mother was willing to strike him, that was good.
A beating meant the matter was over.
The Fire-Spirit Ghost Mother turned to High Person Yin Bone, who had risen. "What? Do you have an objection too, Old Ghost?"
"I wouldn't dare."
High Person Yin Bone lowered his head.
"Is it that you have none, or that you don't dare?"
The Fire-Spirit Ghost Mother pressed him.
High Person Yin Bone slowly glanced at Ji Yuan before answering. "This junior didn't know Fellow Daoist Hu held such esteem in Your Ladyship's eyes. From now on, this junior will treat him as a peer."
The Fire-Spirit Ghost Mother narrowed her eyes and stared at him for a while. Finally, she said in a raspy voice:
"From now on, when you see Hu Beizhi, Yin Bone, you see me!"
High Person Yin Bone remained as impassive as ever. He nodded, turned to Ji Yuan, and cupped his hands.
"Greetings, Senior Hu."
Ji Yuan had no idea why the Fire-Spirit Ghost Mother was doing this. He meant to return the salute, only to discover he could not move at all. In the end, he could only say:
"No need for such courtesy, Fellow Daoist Yin Bone."
Only then did